BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - Officials from the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the Argentine Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ARN) dedicated a new emergency operations center in Buenos Aires today.

NNSA Associate Administrator for Emergency Operations Joseph J. Krol joined U.S. Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne and ARN President Raul Racana in opening the Argentine Nuclear Regulatory Emergency Center (ARNEC), which is capable of simultaneous voice, data and video display with various sectors of the Argentine nuclear emergency response system, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and NNSA's emergency operations center in Washington, D.C.

"NNSA is pleased to help our partners in Argentina open a new emergency operations center. This modern facility will help Argentina respond quickly and accurately to any nuclear or radiation emergency in the country," Krol said.

The efforts by NNSA in equipping and setting up the new emergency center allows the ARN a greater capability in enhancing detection capabilities to allow a more effective response to any nuclear or radiological incident or emergency in Argentina and surrounding South American countries.

NNSA provides the U.S. technical response to nuclear or radiological emergencies within the United States and abroad. It maintains a high readiness alert level and deployable assets that respond rapidly to nuclear and radiological accidents or incidents, lost or stolen radioactive materials, and acts of nuclear terrorism. Teams of experts are located throughout the country and are ready to respond in support of federal, state and local governments.

Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a separately organized agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; works to reduce global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the United States and abroad.

Media contact(s):
NNSA Public Affairs (202) 586-7371